Machine for making insulated wire



Jan. 20, 1931. B H, REEVES 1,789,881

MACHINE FOR MAKING INSULATED WIRE Jan. 20, 1931. B. HJREEvEs 1789.881

MACHINE FOR MAKING INSULATED WIRE Filed Aug. 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm 3 E f. ,wd .1 o a E o o E hlm L-. a o o a o o o o o o QQ 2. E E L Patented Jan. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEAUFORD H. REEVES, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO ROCKBESTOS PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT MACHINE FOR MAKING INSULATEO WIRE Application filed August 20, 1926. Serial No. 130,551.

This invention relates to machinesI for making insulating coverings for electrical conductors or the like. More especially the invention' relates to machines adapted' to form an insulating covering in such a manner that the same Will be substantially a one-piece structure. regardless of the length of the wire, and that the covering will be of substantially uniformi thickness about the conductor.

The insulating machines generally in use prior to this invention, covered a conductor with insulating `material of various kinds by winding, braiding, and other similar operations. These operations were generally time consuming inasmuch as in many instances more than one layer of material was required to properly insulate the conductor. and each layer required a separate machine to apply the same. The design of the machines used,

was such that only a limited length of conductor could be covered at one adjustment thereof, after which the conductor was severed, the machine readjusted and the conductor ends rejoined. Insulating coverings made by previous machines wherein the strands of the covering Vwere helically wound upon the conductor, had the disadvantage of a tendency for the strands to separate when the covered conductor was sharply bent, which destroyed the insulating qualities thereof. This action has been partially overcome in the past by applying an adhesive to the surface of the conductor before winding on the insulatingr material, so as to retain it thereon, but by the use of the improved machine of this invention the use of an adhesive for this purpose has been dispensed with.

The machine of this invention Winds the insulating material directly upon the surface of the conductor whereon it is retained solely by the frictional engagement therebetween. 'The principal object of thisinvention is to provide an improved machine for use in covering a conductor or the like, with an insulating material which preferably comprises a loose, untwisted roving or rovings of thread reinforced fibres, and wherein these rov'ings are Wound upon the conductor in a 50 novel manner, and then bound together with a binding compound, compressed. and smoothed into a dense mass of intermingled fibres, thereby forming a substantially onepiece structure.

.Another object of this invention is to provide an improved machine which will accomplish the above result without interrupting the continuity 0f the conductor, or the operation of covering the same except to provide additional supplies of suitable roving. 80

.Another object of this invention isito provide an improved machine which will perform the above operations economically and eiiiciently, and wherein the conductor will not be excessively' handled or acted upon in 65 such a manner that there will be a tendencv to destroy its electrical conductivity and mechanical strength. i f

To these and other ends, the invention conslsts in the novel features and combinationsl of parts to be hereinafter, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a machine embodyin the features of this invention;

2 is a section on line 2 2 ot' Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a section on line $5 3 of Fig. 1: Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section` illustrating the operation of applying a layer of roving to a conductor;

Fig. 6 is a similar view, showing the application of a second layer of roving;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 1.

The machine selected to illustrate the features of this invention, comprises a frame 10, supported on standards 11. Adjacent to one end of the frame 10 is a reel standard 13, adapted to support a reel 14 upon which is wound a suitable supply of conductor 15. Upon the end of the frame 10, adjacent the reel 14 there is provided a conductor or wire straightening device 16, suitably supported by astandard 17. A rotatable head 18 is supported upon a spindle 19, having a bearing in the standard 17. .The rotatable head 18 is arranged by means of the brackets 20 to support a. plurality of cheeses 21 of rovings of insulatlng material.

The brackets 2O extend outwardly from the face of the rotatable head 18 substantially parallel to the axis thereof, and support spindles 22 upon which the cheeses 21 are rotatably mounted. The spindles 22 extend out from the brackets 20, parallel with the face of the rotatable head 18. T he rotatable head 18 is rotated by means of `a belt 23, which engages a groove 24 in the periphery thereof and is driven by a pulley 25 upon a shaft 26,

which extends substantially the entire length of the frame 10. i

The spindle 19 is hollow and at .one end is provided with a hollow extension 27, which in this instance, supports a plurality of guide rollers 28. f

' An impregnating device 29 is mounted upon the frame 10, and by means of a roller 30 applies an impregnating compound 31 held by the casing 32, by carrying the same to a covered conductor riding over the periphery of said roller, and having sufficient pressure thereon to rotate the same.

A smoothing or condensing device 33 is mounted upon the frame 10. This device is illustrated vas comprising a rotatable fiyer 34, provided in this instance, with centrifugal pressure applying devices 35. The flyer 34 is driven by means of the pulley 36, belt 37 and pulley 38 from the shaft 26.

Following the above described parts of the machine is a similar set ofparts, comprising the rotatable head 39, impreguator 4()` and condensing or smoothing device 41. The ro- 35 tatable head 39, impregnator 40, and smoothing and condensing device 4l are composed `of similar elements as the above described parts 18, 29 and 33 respectively, which dee tailed .parts are indicated byA similar nu.-

merals.

The rotatable head 39, however, is preferably' rotated in a direction opposite to that of the rotatable head 18, the difference in the direction of rotation being obtained, in" this instance, by crossin the beltl 42, which drives the same from the s af-t 26.

A capstan standard 43 is located adJacent the rear end of the frame 10 and supports pulley 44 by which the product, in this instance a double covered insulated wire 45, is

drawn from the machine and passed to a collecting reel (not shown). The pulley 44 is driven from the shaft 26 by means of the worm 46, mounted upon the shaft 26, worm wheel 47 mounted upon the bracket 48, and

the change gears 49 and 50, the gear 50 meshing with the'gear 51, mounted upon the pulley shaft 52.

The shaft 26 may be power driven by any suitable means by connecting the power dewire to be covered. The wire' 15 is first threaded through the straightening device 16, then through the hollow spindle 19, over the roller 30 of the impregnator 29, and between the arms 57 and 58 of pressure devices35. In cases Where only a single covering is required, the wire 15 is then passed around the pulley 44, the other devices being removed from the frame 10. Where a double covering is required, the wire 15 is subsequently threaded through the hollow spindle 19 of the head 39, the impregnator40 and the condensing device 41, and thence to the pulle .44. Power may then be applied to the shafi.l 26 and the rotatable devices placed in motion.` The pulley 44 draws the wire 15 through the devices, unwinding the same from the reel 14. The speed b which the Wire 15 is moved longitudinal y of the machine ma be varied by the use of various sizes of c ange gears 49 and 50.

A suitable frictional brake mechanism 59 is associated with the reel 14 to prevent the same from overrunning and thereby keeps the wire 15 taut. The wire 15 is straightcned, and all kinks therein are removed by the straightening de'vice4 16. The roving from the cheeses2l onthe heads 18 and 39 l'is wound about the wire 15 fby the rotation of said cheeses around the wire, the individual rovings being applied in juxtaposition on the Wire in relatively long helical windings, preferably at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the wire, of between 15 and 50 degrees. The impregnator 29 applies impregnating compound to the covered wire, and the condensing and smoothing device 33, by means of centrifugal force acting upon the arms 5T and 58 to draw them together, condenses the loosely intel-mingled fibres of the roving to a dense and substantially onepiece structure, wherein the fibres are bound together by the drying of the impregnating compound When the roving on any one of the cheeses y 21 becomes exhausted, the machine is temporarily `stopped and a new cheese of roving 1s substituted for the exhausted one. This operation is facilitated, due to the structure of the machine, and is readily accomplished without interfering with the continuity of the wire 15, as the cheeses 21 on' both heads are at all times out of engagement with the wire and radially spaced at some distance from the same. The Wire 15, in the use of this type of machine, may be of unlimited length and need not be broken in order to replenish the supply of roving, as in previous machines. Likewise, a plurality of coverings may be applied in a single machine structure by combining a plurality of sets of insulation forming devices, all of which may be in alignment so that the wire may be maintained in a straight, unbent condition until the same is covered and wound upon a reel.

lVhile I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited thereto in all of its details, being capable of modifications and variations which will lie within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I do not claim the particular form of insulating covering herein disclosed, nor the method employed in forming the same about a wire or core, these features being the subject matter of a co-pending application, Serial No. 130,550, filed Aug. 20, 1926.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for insulatingr a conductor, a frame having a horizontally disposed upper surface, a rotatable head having a plurality of cops each containing an untwisted strand of loosely entangled asbestos fibres, said head being mounted upon said frame, said cops While rotating with said head and about the conductor being adapted to individually rotate to permit said strands to unwind therefrom and be wound upon the uncovered surface of the conductor in long spiral windings, a fibre binding compound applicator mounted upon said frame and axially spaced from said head and adapted to permit the covered conductor to pass therethrough in a straight line in alignment with the axis of said head and parallel to the upper surface of said frame, a rotatableV pressure applying fibre condensing, fibre v1ntermingling and surface polishing device mounted upon said frame and axially spaced from said compound applicator to permit the compound on the covered conductor to partially dry therebetween, the axis of said fibre. condensing device being in alignment with the axis of said head and the covered conductor as it passes through said compound applicator to retain the conductor substantially in a straight line and parallel with the upper surface of said frame. means to draw the conductor through the aforesaid devices, a shaft extending along said frame substantially parallel thereto and having driving connection with each of said rotary devices and said conductor drawing means, and means to drive said shaft whereby said driven devices will be driven in synchronism and eflicient action thereof will be assured.

2. In a machine for insulating a conductor. the combination of a rotatable head adapted to receive a supply of untwisted loosely cntangled fibres of insulating material in single strand form, said head being provided with an opening therein to permit the conductor to uninterruptedly pass therethrough in a straight line in alignment with the axis of said head, and While rotating to wind the strand of fibrous material on the conductor in long spiral windings, a fibre binding compound applicator having means to permit the conductor to pass thereover and beyond the same in a straight line in alignment with the axis of said head while applying compound thereto, a combined pressure applying, fibre condensing, intermingling and surface polishing device having an opening therein to 1permit the conductor to uninterruptedly pass therethrough in a straight line in alignment with the axis of said head and being mounted for rotation about said conductor. said device being axially spaced from said compound applicator to permit the compound on the covered conductor to partially dry therebetween, the axis of said device being in alignment with the axis of said head whereby the conductor is retained disposed in a straight line and in alignment with the axis of said head, means to draw said conductor through the aforesaid mechanisms, and means to rotate said head, said pressure applying device and said conductor drawing means in synchronism.

3. In a machine for insulating a conductor, a horizontally disposed frame member, a rotatable head mounted upon said frame member and adapted to permit a conductor to pass axially therethrough, and parallel to the upper surface of said frame, while rotating about the conductor,a plurality of strands of fibrous material on said head, a fibre binding compound applicator mounted upon said frame, said applicator comprising a compound receptacle having a rotatable member therein, the lower portion of said rotatable member being immersed in compound and the upper portion disposed adjacent the conductor whereby rotation of the rotatable member will plovide a continuous supply of compound to the conductor as the same passes thereby, a bre pressing device mounted upon said frame and rotatable about said conductor, and being adapted to permit the conductor to pass axially therethrough in a straight line parallel to said frame and in alignment with the axis of said head, and means to draw the conductor through the aforesaid devices. Y

4. In a machine for insulating a conductor. a frame having a horizontally disposed upper surface, a rotatable head having a plurality of cops, each containing an untwisted sliver of thread reenforced loosely entangled asbestos fibres thereon, mounted upon said frame, with its axis substantially parallel to the upper surface thereof and adapted to rotate about a conductor being drawn axially therethrough, a fibre binding compound applicator having a supply of compound mounted on said frame below the axis of said head, said applicator being adapted to permit the conductor topass therethrough in a straight line in aligmnent with the axis of said head and parallel to the upper surface of said frame while providing a continuous supply of compound to the conductor from said supply thereof, a rotatable pressure applying device mounted on said frame with its axis in alignment with the axis of said head and the conductor as it passes through said compound applicator, and adapted to permit the conductor to pass therethrough in a straight line and substantially parallel to the upper surface of said frame, means to draw the conductor in a straight line through the aforesaid devices, and means to drive said rotatable head, said rotatable pressure applying device and said conductor drawing means in synchronism.

5. In a machine for insulating a conductor, a frame having a horizontally disposed upper surface, means to axially draw a conductor along said frame parallel to the upper surface thereof, a rotatable head mounted on said upper surface ofy said frame and having rotatably mounted thereon a plurality of cops each containing an untwisted sliver of loosely entangled asbestos fibres, said cops being individually rotatable to permit said Slivers to be unwound therefrom and be wound upon the uncovered surface of a conductor in longtspiral windings by the rotation of said head and the axial movement of the conductor, a fibre binding compound applicator mounted upon said frame and adapted to permit the covered conductor to pass therethrough in a straight line and parallel to the upper surface of said frame, a rotatable pressure applying and surface polishing device mounted upon said frame and axially spaced from said compound applicator to permit the compound on the covered conductor to partially dry therebetween,

said pressure applying device including means acting at an angle to the helix angle of the winding of thestrands of fibres While rotating thereabout, the axis of said pressure applying device being in alignment with the axis of said head to retain the conductor substantially in a straight line and parallel with the upper surface of said frame while rotating about the conductor in engagement therewith, and means to drive said conductor drawing means, said rotatable head and said pressure applying device in synchronism.

6. In a machine for insulating a conductor, the combination of a rotatable member having a conductor of substantially long length wound thereon, a conductor straightening device to receive and pass the conductor While straightening the same, a rotatable head adapted to receive a supply of untwisted loosely entangled fibres of insulating material in single strand form, said head being provided with an opening therein to receive the straightened conductor from said straightening device and to permit the conductor to uninterruptedly pass therethrough in a straight line -in alignment with the axis of said head and while said head is rotating to wind the strand of fibrous material upon the conductor in long spiral windings, a fibre binding compound applicator having means to permit the conductor to pass thereover and beyond the same in a straight line in ali nment with the axis of said head while app ying compound thereto, a combined pressure applying, fibre condensing, intermingling and surface polishing device having an opening therein to permit the conductor to uninterruptedly pass therethrough in a straight line in alignment with the axis of Said head `and being mounted for rotation about said conductor, said device being axially spaced from said compound applicator to permit the compound on the covered conductor to partially dry therebetween, the axis of said device being in alignment with the axis of said headhwhereby the conductor is retained disposed in a straight line and in alignment with the axis of said head, means to draw said conductor through the aforesaid mechanisms, and means to rotate said head, said pressure applying device and said conductor drawing means in synchronism.

7. In a machine for insulatin a conductor, the combination of a rotata le member having a conductor of substantially long length wound thereon, a conductor straightcning device to receive and pass the conductor while straightening the same, a rotatable` head adapted to receive a su ply of untwisted loosely entangled fibres o? insulating material in single strand form, and while rotating to wind the strand of fibrous material upon the conductor in long spiral windings, a fibre binding compound applicator, and a combined pressure applying, fibre condensing, intermingling and surface polishing device mounted for rotation about said conductor, said device being axially spaced from said compound applicator to permit the compound on the covered conductor to partially dry therebetween, said rotatable head, said compound applicator and said pressure applying device being arranged and constructed to permit the conductor to uninterruptedly pass therethrough and thereby, while operating thereon, in a straight line in alignment with the axis of said rotatable head and without affecting the straightness thereof provided by said straightening device.

8f In a machine for insulating a conductor,

Awa, rotary head adapted to receive a plurality of slivers of fibrous material and including means to helically wind them about a conductor with the slivers disposed adjacent each Yother upon the conductor, a compound applicator to receive the sliver wound conductor and including means to apply fibre binding compound thereto while permitting the" conductor to remain in a straight line in Valignment with the axis of said head, a fibre condensing, intermingling and surface polishing device comprising posed surfaces between which the conductor is caused to pass in a straight line and in alignment with the axis of said head, said device being rotatable to move said members about the conductor to wipe the fibres of the covering about the conductor to entangle the fibres of adjacent slivers and to polish the surface of the covering while densely and uniformlycompactingthe fibrous material into a substantially homogeneous onepiece mass the entire length thereof, and means to draw the conductor through the aforesaid devices and in synchronism therewith.

9. In a machine for insulating a conductor, a rotary head adapted to receive a plurality of slivers of fibrous material, and including means to helically wind them about a conductor with ythe slivers disposed adjacent each aother upon the conductor, a compound applicator to receive the sliver wound conductor, and including means to apply fibre binding compound thereto while permitting the conductor to remain in a straight line in alignment with the axis of said head, a fibre condensing, intermingling and surface polishing device comprising members having opposed surfaces between which the conductor is caused to pass in a straight line and in alignment with the axis of said head, said device being rotatable to move said members about the conductor toV wipe the fibres of the covering about the conductor to cntangle the fibres of adjacent slivers and to dispose the fibres at the outer surface of the covering at an angle to the helix angle of the sliver windings, and to polish the surface of the covering While densely and uniformly compacting the fibrous material into a. substantially homogeneous one-piece mass the entire length thereof, and means to draw the conductor through the aforesaid devices and in synchro-l nism therewith.

10. In a machine for insulating a conductor, a rotary head adapted to receive a plurality of slivers of fibrous materia-l, and ina conductor with lthe slivers cluding means to helically Wind them about disposed adjacent each other upon the conductor, a compound applicator to receive the sliver wound mding compound thereto while permitting members having oponductor, and including means to apply fibre v the conductor to remain in a straight line in alignment with the axis of Vsaid head,

and a fibre'condensin intermin liner and.

surface polishing deylce comprising members havlng opposed surfaces between which the conductor is caused to pass in a straight line and in alignment with the axis of said head,l said device being rotatable to move said members about the conductor to cause a wiping action upon the slivers formin the covering at an angle to the helix ang e of lthe sliver winding to insure entanglement of the fibres of and between adjacent windings and the surface fibres, while polishingr the surface of the covering and condensing the fibrous material into a densely and uniformly compacted substantially homogeneous mass the entire length of the covering. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of August, 1926.

BEAUFORD H. REEVES. 

